The World of Wine

the world of wine is multifaceted - on the one hand you have marketing brands where juice can be sourced from anywhere, wines are blended for the masses and it's about a flashy label, cool concept or celebrity - their marketing brands - these have their place - they are interesting and fun...

my world of wine consists of family owned wineries, that have been passed down for generations and are able to last because they have always made great quality wines, they have a passion for wine and for place, they have been able to last because successive generations are able to incorporate the expertise gained from working proven, excellent plots of land with new tastes and trends...

today I met Marie Albrecht, daughter of Jean Albrecht and 19th generation of the Lucien Albrecht winery in Alsace...today she told me "I was born in a vat and wine is in my blood" - can it get more romantic than that?

That is my world of wine - history, passion, romance! Wine is the embodiment of the passion of its maker, the terroir of its region and the stories that it tells.

Here was the menu for our media lunch today at Le Crocodile:

• Lucien Albrecht Cremant d'Alsace & Brut Rose paired with Alsatian Onion tart




• Lucien Albrecht Gewurtztraminer paired with Foie Gras Terrine & Icewine gelee




• Lucien Albrecht 2005 Clos Schild Riesling (small production - not sold outside of France) paired with Frog's Legs
  


• Lucien Albrecht 2008 Weid Pinot Noir paired with Veal with Morel Mushrooms, Spaetzle and Duck Breast

• Pear and Mint Sorbet to cleanse the palette
  
  
• Souffle with Creme Anglaise and Americanos to finish, a revisit of the Lucien Albrecht Gewurtztraminer

• and can't forget milk and dark chocolate crocodiles
  

Of course the Clos Schild was amazing, but I hadn't known how wonderful the Lucien Albrecht Gewurtztraminer - at $25.99 in BC Liquor Stores, it is my new go-to Gewurtz...